dead duck
noun informal
A person or thing that is defunct or has no chance of success: travel promotions are a dead duck as far as marketing directors are concerned...
- However, in 1977, when a number of newspapers had questioned whether his team were dead ducks after a barren start to the season, they opted to confront criticism head-on.
- The Tories may be dead ducks election-wise but they can still throw a good fundraiser, as they showed last Thursday night in Glasgow when they banked #40,000.
- If they are going to charge £4.20 to go from Chandler's Ford to Southampton this service could be a dead duck.
Origin
From the old saying ‘never waste powder on a dead duck’.
- divide and rule (or conquer)
- divided against itself
- divided highway
- divided skirt
- dividend
- dividend cover
- dividend coverage
- dividend warrant
- dividend yield
- divider
- dividing line
- dividing range
- divi-divi
- divination
- divinatory
- divine
- divinely
- divineness
- Divine Office
- diviner
- divine right of kings
- divine service
- diving
- puppy
- puppy biscuit